U.S. patent number 11,173,732 [Application Number 16/831,888] was granted by the patent office on 2021-11-16 for printing apparatus and conveyance apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha. The grantee listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Ryo Kobayashi, Tsutomu Obata, Yoshiaki Suzuki.
United States Patent |
11,173,732 |
Suzuki , et al. |
November 16, 2021 |
Printing apparatus and conveyance apparatus
Abstract
To provide a printing apparatus and a conveyance apparatus that
are capable of preventing a cut position to be cut by a slitter
(cutting unit) from deviating, a printing apparatus, which is
configured to perform printing by use of a printing unit on a
printing medium conveyed by a conveyance unit and is configured to
cut the printing medium on which the printing has been performed by
the printing unit by use of a cutting unit at a cut position along
a conveyance direction of the conveyance unit, includes an abutment
portion configured to abut on a printing surface of the printing
medium at an inner position relative to the cut position in a width
direction of the printing medium, the width direction that crosses
the conveyance direction.
Inventors: |
Suzuki; Yoshiaki (Nagareyama,
JP), Kobayashi; Ryo (Fuchu, JP), Obata;
Tsutomu (Tokyo, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005934286 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/831,888 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200307272 A1 |
Oct 1, 2020 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 29, 2019 [JP] |
|
|
JP2019-065975 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J
11/66 (20130101); B41J 11/70 (20130101); B41J
11/68 (20130101); B41J 11/706 (20130101); B26D
11/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41J
11/70 (20060101); B41J 11/66 (20060101); B41J
11/68 (20060101); B26D 11/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Legesse; Henok D
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Venable LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A printing apparatus comprising: a conveyance unit configured to
convey a printing medium in a conveyance direction; a printing unit
configured to print an image on the printing medium conveyed by the
conveyance unit; and a cutting unit configured to cut the printing
medium on which the image is printed by the printing unit, the
printing medium being cut at a cut position along the conveyance
direction, wherein the printing medium is cut by the cutting unit
while being conveyed by the conveyance unit, and wherein the
printing apparatus includes an abutment portion configured to abut
on a printing surface on which the printing unit prints the image
of the printing medium at an inner position relative to the cut
position in a width direction of the printing medium, the width
direction that intersects the conveyance direction.
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
abutment portion is configured to abut on the printing medium from
the printing surface, the image being printed on the printing
surface.
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
abutment portion is configured to abut on a side in a region on
which the image is printed in the width direction.
4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
abutment portion is configured to abut on the printing medium so as
to regulate floating of the printing medium.
5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
abutment portion is configured to abut on such a position that
ensures flatness of the cut position of the printing medium.
6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a position
where the abutment portion abuts on the printing medium is on an
upstream side relative to the cut position in the conveyance
direction and matches up with the cut position in a direction
orthogonal to the conveyance direction and the width direction.
7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
abutment portion is configured to elastically act on the printing
medium.
8. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
abutment portion is configured to abut on the printing medium via a
spur.
9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
abutment portion is configured to be switchable between a first
posture in which the abutment portion abuts on the printing medium
and a second posture in which the abutment portion does not abut on
the printing medium.
10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
cutting unit includes a conveying portion positioned outside the
cut position in the width direction and configured to convey the
printing medium in synchronization with the conveyance unit.
11. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
cutting unit includes at least one slitter unit that is provided
with the abutment portion.
12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
slitter unit includes a moving portion configured to move in the
width direction.
13. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
cutting unit is configured to cut the printing medium by making two
round blades make contact with each other, and wherein the cut
position corresponds to a contact point where the two round blades
make contact with each other.
14. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a cutter configured to cut the printing medium in the width
direction.
15. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
printing unit is configured to perform printing in an ink jet
system.
16. A conveyance apparatus comprising: a conveyance unit configured
to convey a printing medium on which an image is printed in a
conveyance direction; and a cutting unit configured to cut the
printing medium at a cut position along the conveyance direction,
wherein the printing medium is cut by the cutting unit while being
conveyed by the conveyance unit, and wherein the conveyance
apparatus includes an abutment portion configured to abut on a
printing surface of the printing medium at an inner position
relative to the cut position in a width direction of the printing
medium, the width direction that intersects the conveyance
direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a
conveyance apparatus that are capable of cutting a conveyed
sheet-shaped printing medium.
Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-13438 discloses a technology
related to a conveyance apparatus including a slitter for cutting a
printing medium along the conveying direction after printing is
performed on the printing medium. Specifically, according to the
technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-13438,
the leading edge of a conveyed printing medium is inserted to the
slitter, so that the printing medium is cut along the conveyance
direction in accordance with conveyance of the printing medium.
However, the leading edge of the printing medium may float due to
cockling, which makes the printing medium wave because of ink
application, or the like. Therefore, in the technology disclosed in
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-13438, there is a possibility
that, due to such floating of the leading edge at the time of
cutting a printing medium, the position of the leading edge to be
cut by the slitter undesirably deviates in the direction orthogonal
to the conveyance direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above problem
and provides a printing apparatus and a conveyance apparatus that
are capable of preventing the cut position to be cut by the slitter
from deviating.
In the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
printing apparatus comprising:
a conveyance unit configured to convey a printing medium in a
conveyance direction;
a printing unit configured to print an image on the printing medium
conveyed by the conveyance unit; and
a cutting unit configured to cut the printing medium on which the
image is printed by the printing unit, the printing medium being
cut at a cut position along the conveyance direction,
wherein the printing medium is cut by the cutting unit while being
conveyed by the conveyance unit, and
wherein the printing apparatus includes an abutment portion
configured to abut on a printing surface on which the printing unit
prints the image of the printing medium at an inner position
relative to the cut position in a width direction of the printing
medium, the width direction that intersects the conveyance
direction.
In the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
conveyance apparatus comprising:
a conveyance unit configured to convey a printing medium on which
an image is printed in a conveyance direction; and
a cutting unit configured to cut the printing medium at a cut
position along the conveyance direction,
wherein the printing medium is cut by the cutting unit while being
conveyed by the conveyance unit, and
wherein the conveyance apparatus includes an abutment portion
configured to abut on a printing surface of the printing medium at
an inner position relative to the cut position in a width direction
of the printing medium, the width direction that intersects the
conveyance direction.
According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the
cut position to be cut by the slitter (cutting unit) from
deviating.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from
the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference
to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a printing apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a cutter and a slitter;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a relationship between an
upper movable blade and a lower movable blade in a slitter
unit;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a configuration of the
slitter unit;
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a regulating position of a
regulating portion;
FIG. 6 is a block configuration diagram of a control system of the
printing apparatus;
FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are diagrams for explaining the flatness in the
vicinity of the positions that are cut by upper movable blades and
lower movable blades; and
FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are diagrams illustrating a modification
example of the slitter unit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, an explanation is given of embodiments of the present
invention with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments
do not limit the present invention. Further, every combination of
the characteristics explained in the present embodiments is not
essential to the solution means of the present invention. The same
reference sign is assigned for explanation of the identical
configuration. In addition, relative positions, shapes, and the
like, of the constituent elements described in the embodiments are
merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention
to the range of the examples.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an
inkjet printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The
inkjet printing apparatus 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as
the printing apparatus 100) performs printing on a printing medium
that has a shape of a long sheet. In the present embodiment, the
printing medium is a roll sheet 1. The roll sheet 1 held in the
printing apparatus 100 is conveyed to the downstream through a
conveyance path formed by the upper guide 6 and the lower guide 7.
The roll sheet 1 is nipped by the conveyance roller 8 and the pinch
roller 9 and conveyed to an image printing unit. The image printing
unit is configured to include the print head 2, the carriage 3 on
which the print head 2 is mounted, and the platen 10 disposed at a
position facing the print head 2. The roll sheet 1 is conveyed onto
the platen 10 by the conveyance roller 8. Ink is ejected by the
print head 2 onto the roll sheet 1 conveyed to the image printing
unit, so as to print an image.
The carriage 3 is supported so as to be able to perform a sliding
motion along the guide shaft 4 and a guide rail (not illustrated in
the drawing) that are disposed in parallel to each other in the
printing apparatus 100. The carriage 3 includes the reflection type
detection sensor 12 facing the platen 10, so as to be able to
detect the reflectivity of a spot position. That is, in a case
where the platen 10 is black and the roll sheet 1 is white, the
reflectivity of the platen 10 and the roll sheet 1 are greatly
different. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the
platen 10 is present or the roll sheet 1 is present at the spot
position by use of the detection sensor 12. It is possible to
detect the leading edge of the roll sheet 1 by utilizing the fact
that, while the roll sheet 1 is conveyed by the conveyance roller
8, the reflectivity greatly changes in a case where the leading
edge of the roll sheet 1 in the conveyance direction passes through
the spot position of the detection sensor 12.
The carriage 3 scans in the X direction along the guide shaft 4
while holding the print head 2, and the print head 2 ejects ink
while the carriage 3 scans, so as to perform printing on the roll
sheet 1. After a scan by the carriage 3 to perform printing on the
roll sheet 1, the conveyance roller 8 conveys the roll sheet 1 by a
predetermined amount, and the carriage 3 scans on the roll sheet 1
again to perform printing. In this way, by repeating printing and
conveying, the entire printing is completed. Furthermore, since the
detection sensor 12 is mounted on the carriage 3, the positions of
the paper edges in the width direction (X direction) of the roll
sheet 1 can also be detected by the reciprocating operation of the
carriage 3.
On the downstream relative to the carriage 3 in the conveyance
direction of the roll sheet 1, there is provided the cutter 5 for
cutting the roll sheet 1 in a direction intersecting the conveyance
direction, and, on the further downstream, there is provided the
slitter 13 (cutting unit) for cutting the roll sheet 1 in the
conveyance direction. On the downstream relative to the slitter 13,
there is provided the discharging guide 11 for discharging the roll
sheet 1 that has been cut.
The cutter 5 includes a cutter unit 300 (see FIG. 2) as a cutting
mechanism for cutting the roll sheet 1 and a unit for moving the
cutter unit 300 along the X direction. Furthermore, the slitter 13
includes a slitter unit 303 (see FIG. 2) as a cutting mechanism for
cutting the roll sheet 1 and a unit for moving the slitter unit 303
along the X direction.
FIG. 2 is a top view for explaining the cutter 5 and the slitter 13
including the slitter units 303L and 303R. In the present
specification, "L" and "R" at the end of the reference signs
indicate a member on the left side (that is, +X side) and a member
on the right side (that is, -X side) on the drawings, respectively.
In the present specification, such an end of a reference sign may
be omitted in a case of members that are the same on the left side
and the right side.
The guide rail 101 is configured to guide the cutter carriage 200
in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the roll
sheet 1. The cutter carriage 200 integrally connects the cutter
unit 300 and the belt 102. Furthermore, the belt 102 is configured
to bridge the motor pulley 107 and the tensioner pulley 108
disposed on the left and right sides of the guide rail 101 and is
configured to be moved by the cutter motor 103 connected to the
motor pulley 107. The cutter motor 103 is provided with the cutter
encoder 104. The cutter encoder 104 counts the number of pulses
corresponding to driving of the cutter motor 103. Based on the
origin position of the cutter carriage 200 and the number of pulses
obtained by the cutter encoder 104, it is possible to control the
movement position of the cutter unit 300 in the X1 and X2
directions.
The cutter unit 300 includes the upper movable blade 301 and the
lower movable blade 302, so that the roll sheet 1 is cut at the
contact point of the upper movable blade 301 and the lower movable
blade 302 while the cutter unit 300 moves in the X1 direction.
Furthermore, the upper movable blade 301 and the lower movable
blade 302 are connected to the cutter motor 103 via the belt 102
and the cutter carriage 200 and are configured to be rotationally
driven. In a case where the roll sheet 1 is cut, the roll sheet 1
is cut while the lower movable blade 302 and the upper movable
blade 301, which is in contact with the lower movable blade 302,
rotate together. In the example of FIG. 2, the cutter unit 300
performs cutting from the first end 1a of the roll sheet 1 to the
second end 1b of the roll sheet 1. The first end 1a of the roll
sheet 1 is an end on the stand-by position P1 side of the cutter
unit 300. After the roll sheet 1 is cut, the cutter carriage 200 is
reversed at a predetermined reversing position. Further, the cutter
carriage 200 moves to a position that is the stand-by position P1
to stand by for the next cutting operation. Although the cutter
unit 300 is mounted on the cutter carriage 200 in the example of
the present embodiment, the cutter unit 300 may be mounted on the
carriage 3 that moves the print head 2, etc., for example.
The slitter 13 is disposed on the downstream side relative to the
cutter 5 in the conveyance direction of the roll sheet 1. The
slitter 13 is able to move a slitter unit 303 to a given position
in the X1 and X2 directions and is able to cut the roll sheet 1 in
the direction parallel to the conveyance direction (+Y direction)
by use of the slitter unit 303. In the present embodiment, an
explanation is given of a configuration in which two slitter units
303 are mounted. That is, an explanation is given of the example in
which the slitter units 303L and 303R are mounted. The slitter
units 303L and 303R have the same configuration with the components
that are left-right reversals in the X1 and X2 directions. In FIG.
2, for the sake of simplification, reference signs are mainly
assigned to the components of the slitter unit 303L.
FIGS. 3A through FIG. 5 are diagrams for explaining details of the
slitter unit 303L. FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view of the slitter
upper movable blade 304L and the slitter lower movable blade 305L
of the slitter unit 303L. FIG. 3B is a schematic side view of the
slitter upper movable blade 304L, the slitter lower movable blade
305L, the slitter upper conveyance roller 320L, and the slitter
lower conveyance roller 321L of the slitter unit 303L. FIG. 4A is a
back side perspective view of the slitter unit 303L, and FIG. 4B is
a front view of the slitter unit 303L. FIG. 5 is a diagram for
explaining a regulating position of the regulating portion
600L.
The slitter unit 303L includes the slitter upper movable blade 304L
and the slitter lower movable blade 305L. The slitter upper movable
blade 304L and the slitter lower movable blade 305L are disposed so
as to have a round blades overlap amount 313L in the vertical
direction and have a predetermined amount of angle (intersect
angle) .theta. relative to the conveyance direction Y, which is the
cutting direction. The roll sheet 1 is cut at the contact point
311L of the slitter upper movable blade 304L and the slitter lower
movable blade 305L. That is, in a slitter unit 303 of the present
embodiment, the slitter upper movable blade 304 and the slitter
lower movable blade 305 function as a cutting portion that cuts a
printing medium. The slitter upper movable blade 304L is connected
to the slitter driving motor 16L via a gear.
In a case where the slitter upper movable blade 304L is rotated by
driving of the slitter driving motor 16L, the slitter upper
conveyance roller 320L, which is connected coaxially with the
slitter upper movable blade 304L, rotates as well. The outer
peripheral surface of the slitter upper conveyance roller 320L is
in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the slitter lower
conveyance roller 321L, which is connected coaxially with the
slitter lower movable blade 305L, at the roller nip point 312L.
Thus, by driving with friction transmission, while the roll sheet 1
is conveyed by the slitter upper conveyance roller 320L and the
slitter lower conveyance roller 321L, the upper and lower blades
rotate together to cut the roll sheet 1 in the conveyance
direction. That is, in a slitter unit 303 of the present
embodiment, the slitter upper conveyance roller 320 and the slitter
lower conveyance roller 321 function as a conveying portion that
conveys a printing medium.
Each of the slitter upper conveyance roller 320L and the slitter
lower conveyance roller 321L is positioned on the outer side of the
roll sheet 1 in the X direction, compared to the contact point 311L
of the slitter upper movable blade 304L and the slitter lower
movable blade 305L (see FIG. 5). The outer side of the roll sheet 1
is directed to the second end 1b of the roll sheet 1, that is, to
the region where the image to be recorded as a product is not
printed (the nPS side in FIG. 5).
Since the slitter driving motor 16L is provided with the slitter
driving encoder 310L, it is possible to control the slitter driving
motor 16L with a predetermined rotation speed and a predetermined
rotation amount. The slitter driving motor 16L is controlled to
drive at a driving amount (specifically, a rotation speed and a
rotation amount), which is synchronized with and corresponding to
the conveyance amount by the conveyance roller 8.
The slitter unit 303L includes the slitter moving motor 14L and is
configured such that driving force is transmitted to the slitter
moving roller 306L via a gear. The slitter moving roller 306L abuts
on the slitter guide rail 307, which extends in the X direction.
Furthermore, the slitter unit 303L is configured to be movable in
the X1 and X2 directions by friction between the outer peripheral
surface of the slitter moving roller 306L and the slitter guide
rail 307. The slitter moving motor 14L is provided with the slitter
moving encoder 309L, so that it is possible to control the movement
position of the slitter unit 303L from the stand-by position
P1.
In the slitter unit 303L, each of the components including the
later-described regulating portion 600L is held by the holding
member 608. Accordingly, the slitter upper movable blade 304L, the
slitter lower movable blade 305L, the slitter upper conveyance
roller 320L, the slitter lower conveyance roller 321L, and the
regulating portion 600L are integrally movable along the slitter
guide rail 307. Although the slitter moving roller 306L is driven
with friction in the present embodiment, the slitter moving roller
306L may have a rack and pinion configuration with a slitter moving
roller serving as a pinion and a slitter guide rail serving as a
rack. That is, in the present embodiment, the slitter moving motor
14L, the slitter moving roller 306L, the slitter guide rail 307,
etc., function as a moving portion for moving the slitter unit 303L
in the X direction.
For ensuring the flatness of the roll sheet 1 at the time of
cutting the roll sheet 1 after printing, the regulating portion
600L that regulates floating of the roll sheet 1 is disposed in the
slitter unit 303L as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The regulating
portion 600L is positioned on the inner side of the roll sheet 1 in
the X direction, compared to the contact point 311L. The inner side
of the roll sheet 1 is directed to the first end 1a of the roll
sheet 1, that is, to the region where the image to be recorded as a
product is printed (the PS side in FIG. 5).
The regulating portion 600L includes the spur 601L, which abuts on
the printing surface side of the roll sheet 1 to regulate floating
of the roll sheet 1, and the holding portion 602L, which does not
abut on the roll sheet 1 and holds the spur 601L. In the regulating
portion 600L, the spur 601L serves as a member that abuts on the
printing surface to regulate floating of the roll sheet 1, so that
transfer of an image printed on the printing surface is prevented.
Furthermore, the spur 601L is held by the holding portion 602L via
the elastic member 606L (see FIG. 5) such as a spring, so that the
spur 601L is configured to elastically act on the roll sheet 1.
That is, in the present embodiment, the regulating portion 600
functions as an abutment portion that abuts on a printing
medium.
The regulating position where the spur 601L abuts on the roll sheet
1 to regulate floating of the roll sheet 1 matches up with the
contact point 311L (see FIG. 3B) in the Z direction, which is
orthogonal to the conveyance direction and the width direction.
Accordingly, it is possible to regulate floating of the roll sheet
1 such that the position of the roll sheet 1 approximately matches
up with the contact point 311L in the Z direction. The meaning of
matching up of the regulating position and the contact point 311L
in the Z direction is not limited to a complete match, and there
may be a predetermined range. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG.
5, the regulating position is positioned on the upstream side
relative to the contact point 311L in the conveyance direction (-Y
direction side) by the length L1. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG.
5, the regulating position is positioned on the inner side of the
roll sheet 1 relative to the contact point 311L in the X direction
by the length L2 (for example, 10 mm). As for the lengths L1 and
L2, values with which the flatness of the roll sheet 1 in the
vicinity of the contact point 311L is ensured in a case where the
leading edge of the conveyed roll sheet 1 reaches the contact point
311L are obtained by an experiment and set, for example. In a case
where the above-mentioned predetermined range is provided, the
predetermined range may be obtained by an experiment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control
configuration of the printing apparatus 100. The printing apparatus
100 includes a control unit 400. Furthermore, the control unit 400
includes a CPU 411, a ROM 412, a RAM 413, and a motor driver 414.
The control unit 400 implements control of a conveyance motor 51, a
cutter motor 103, a slitter moving motor 14, a slitter driving
motor 16, a carriage motor 52, and a print head 2. The control unit
400 obtains signals from a conveyance roller encoder 112, a cutter
encoder 104, a slitter moving encoder 309, a slitter driving
encoder 310, a carriage encoder 19, and a detection sensor 12.
Moreover, the control unit 400 controls the various motors and the
print head 2, based on the signals.
As described above, the printing apparatus 100 is configured such
that the slitter 13 is capable of cutting a predetermined region of
the width (X direction) of the roll sheet 1 after printing.
Therefore, in the printing apparatus 100, for example, by cutting
the region adjacent in the width direction to the image to be
recorded as a product by use of the slitter 13, it is possible to
obtain such a printed subject as obtained in a case where
left-right borderless printing is performed by a printing apparatus
that is not provided with the slitter 13. In this case, since it is
not necessary to apply ink such that the ink is ejected outside the
roll sheet 1, it is possible to greatly prevent the ink from
adhering to the platen 10. Hereinafter, an explanation is given of
a case in which borderless printing in the left and right
direction, or the X direction, is performed by the printing
apparatus 100 on the roll sheet 1.
In a case where an instruction for starting left-right borderless
printing on the roll sheet 1 is provided by the user, first, the
slitter moving motors 14L and 14R are driven, so as to move the
slitter units 303L and 303R to cutting positions, respectively. The
cutting positions of the slitter upper movable blades 304 and the
slitter lower movable blades 305 are, for example, the positions of
the end portions in the X direction of the region PS in which the
image to be recorded as a product is printed.
Next, the conveyance motor 51 and the slitter driving motors 16 are
driven such that the conveyance speed of the conveyance roller 8
and the conveyance speed of the slitter upper conveyance rollers
320 are the same speed, so that the roll sheet 1 is conveyed by the
conveyance roller 8. Thereafter, in a case where it is detected
that the leading edge of the roll sheet 1 has been conveyed up to
the printing start position, based on a detection result of a
sensor (not illustrated in the drawings), printing on the roll
sheet 1 is performed based on print data.
In a case where printing proceeds and the leading edge of the roll
sheet 1 reaches the contact points 311 of the slitter units 303,
the roll sheet 1 is cut by the slitter upper movable blades 304 and
the slitter lower movable blades 305 that are rotating on the left
and right.
Here, FIG. 7A is a front view illustrating the roll sheet 1 in a
case where the regulating portions 600 are not disposed in the
slitter units 303. FIG. 7B is a front view illustrating the roll
sheet 1 in a case where the regulating portions 600 are disposed in
the slitter units 303. FIG. 7C is a plan view for explaining the
cutting of the roll sheet 1 by the slitter units 303 in which the
regulating portions 600 are disposed.
As illustrated in FIG. 7A, if the roll sheet 1 is conveyed by
simply holding two locations of the roll sheet 1 in the X
direction, the middle part of the roll sheet 1 between the two held
locations floats in a case where cockling of the roll sheet 1
occurs due to application of ink. If the leading edge of the roll
sheet 1 reaches the contact point 311L in that state, cutting
deviation occurs in the vicinity of the leading edge.
In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the
regulating portions 600 for regulating floating of the roll sheet 1
are disposed in the slitter units 303. According to such a
configuration, the flatness of the roll sheet 1 in the vicinity of
the contact points 311 is ensured at the time where the leading
edge of the roll sheet 1 reaches the contact points 311. Therefore,
in a case where the regulating portions 600 are disposed, the
posture of the leading edge of the roll sheet 1 is stabilized at
the time where the leading edge of the roll sheet 1 reaches the
contact points 311, compared to the case where the regulating
portions 600 are not disposed.
Thereafter, the roll sheet 1 is cut by the slitter upper movable
blades 304 and the slitter lower movable blades 305, and the cut
pieces of the roll sheet 1 on the sides that have been cut are
nipped and conveyed by the slitter upper conveyance rollers 320 and
the slitter lower conveyance rollers 321. As described above, at
the contact points 311, the posture of the roll sheet 1 is
stabilized by the regulating portions 600. Therefore, as for the
roll sheet 1 that has been cut by the slitter units 303, since
cutting deviation is prevented from occurring, the cutting accuracy
is stabilized at the leading edge (see FIG. 7C).
Upon completion of the printing, cutting by the slitter units 303
is performed up to predetermined positions. Thereafter, the slitter
units 303L and 303R are moved to the respective stand-by positions,
and the roll sheet 1 is conveyed up to a position where the cutter
unit 300 can cut the roll sheet 1. Then, the roll sheet 1 is cut by
the cutter unit 300. Accordingly, the printed subject of the roll
sheet 1, on which the image to be recorded as a product has been
printed, and the cut pieces, on which the printing is not
performed, are discharged through the discharging guide 11.
As explained above, in the printing apparatus 100, the regulating
portions 600 abut on the roll sheet 1 at positions that are inner
in the X direction relative to the contact points 311 and on the
upstream side of the conveyance direction in the Y direction
relative to the contact points 311 and that match up with the
contact points 311 in the Z direction, so that floating of the roll
sheet 1 is regulated. Accordingly, even though floating of the roll
sheet 1 occurs due to cockling, it is possible to ensure the
flatness of the roll sheet 1 at the time where the roll sheet 1
reaches the contact points 311. Therefore, it is less likely that
the cut positions to be cut by the slitter 13 at the leading edge
of the roll sheet 1 deviate in the width direction. (Other
embodiments)
The above-described embodiment may be modified as shown in the
following (1) through (5).
(1) Although not particularly described in the above-described
embodiment, floating of the roll sheet 1 may be regulated by a
regulating portion 700 that is configured to be capable of
selectively switching a regulating posture, in which a spur 601
abuts on the roll sheet 1 so as to regulate floating of the roll
sheet 1, and a retracted posture, in which the spur 601 does not
abut on the roll sheet 1. Hereinafter, a detail explanation is
given of regulating portions 700 with reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B and
8C. As described above, since the slitter units 303L and 303R are
configured to be left-right reversals with each other, an
explanation is given of the regulating portion 700L provided in the
slitter unit 303L in the following description, and an explanation
about the slitter unit 303R is omitted.
FIG. 8A is a schematic configuration diagram of the slitter unit
303L including the regulating portion 700L. FIG. 8B is a side view
of the slitter unit 303L in which the regulating portion 700L is in
the regulating posture. FIG. 8C is a side view of the slitter unit
303L in which the regulating portion 700L is in the retracted
posture. In the following explanations, the same or corresponding
configurations as those of the slitter unit 303L of the
above-described embodiment are assigned with the same reference
signs, so as to omit detailed explanations thereof as
appropriate.
In the regulating portion 700L, the holding portion 702L for
holding the spur 601L is fixed to the shaft 703L so as to be
revolvable relative to the holding member 608L in the directions of
the arrows I and II. The spring 705L is provided for pivotally
moving the holding portion 702L in the direction of the arrow I in
a case where the regulating portion 700L is in the regulating
posture (first posture), so that the posture is switched to the
retracted posture. Furthermore, the pivotal movement control
portion 704L is provided for pivotally moving the holding portion
702L in the direction of the arrow II in a case where the
regulating portion 700L is in the retracted posture (second
posture), so that the posture is switched to the regulating
posture. For example, the pivotal movement control portion 704L is
configured as a solenoid, so that, by electrification, the holding
portion 702L is pivotally moved in the direction of the arrow II
against the biasing force of the spring 705L.
With such a configuration, in a case of performing left-right
borderless printing, the regulating portion 700L is switched to the
retracted posture or the regulating posture, based on information
about the type of printing medium, which is input by the user, for
example. More specifically, for example, in a case of using a
printing medium having so high rigidity that cockling, or the like,
hardly occurs, electrification to the pivotal movement control
portion 704L is cancelled, so that the regulating portion 700L is
switched to the retracted posture by the biasing force of the
spring 705L. Such a printing medium having so high rigidity that
cockling, or the like, hardly occurs is glossy paper, an art sheet,
or the like. Furthermore, in a case of using a printing medium
having so low rigidity that cockling, or the like, easily occurs,
the pivotal movement control portion 704L is electrified, so that
the regulating portion 700L is switched to the regulating posture
against the biasing force of the spring 705L.
In this manner, regarding regulation of floating of a printing
medium by use of the regulating portion 700L, the spur 601L does
not abut on the image, which is a product, in a case of a printing
medium to which the regulation is not necessary, and, thus,
transfer of the image is surely prevented.
(2) In the above-described embodiment, the explanation has been
given with the example of what is termed as a serial scan type
printing apparatus, in which a print head is moved in the X
direction and a printing medium is moved in the Y direction.
However, what is termed as a full-line type printing apparatus, in
which ink is ejected across the width direction of a printing
medium, may be used. Furthermore, although not particularly
described in the above embodiment, for the configurations of the
slitter units 303 for cutting a printing medium and moving in the X
direction, various publicly known technologies may be used.
(3) In the above-described embodiment, the slitter 13 includes two
slitter units 303. However, only one slitter unit 303 or more than
three slitter units 303 may be included. Furthermore, in the
above-described embodiment, printing is performed by the printing
apparatus 100 in an ink jet system. However, the printing strategy
of the printing apparatus 100 may be any of various publicly known
printing strategies.
(4) Although not particularly described in the above embodiment,
the regulating portions 600 may be configured such that the
positions of the regulating portions 600 can be adjusted in the X,
Y, and Z directions relative to the holding members 608, so that
the regulating positions are adjusted according to the type of
printing medium, the ink application amount, or the like. In this
case, the user may adjust the regulating positions of the
regulating portions 600 by hand or via an operation panel provided
on the printing apparatus 100. Moreover, it is possible to adjust
the regulating positions of the regulating portions 600 by use of
the control unit 400. In addition, although the slitter units 303
of the slitter 13 moves in the width direction of the roll sheet 1
by controlling of the control unit 400 in the above-described
embodiment, the above-described embodiment is not limited thereto.
That is, the slitter units 303 may be fixedly disposed, or may be
configured to be movable by the user.
(5) The above-described embodiment and various forms shown in (1)
through (4) may be combined as appropriate.
While the present invention has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of
the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures
and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application
No. 2019-065975, filed Mar. 29, 2019, which is hereby incorporated
by reference wherein in its entirety.
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